Global: UK ‘pop-up’ paper for Remain voters

A UK regional publisher will launch what has been described as a pop-up newspaper on Friday, aimed at people dismayed by the Brexit vote in the EU referendum. The Guardian reports the Norfolk-based Archant is planning to publish four issues of a weekly title called The New European to cater for the 48 per cent...

A UK regional publisher will launch what has been described as a pop-up newspaper on Friday, aimed at people dismayed by the Brexit vote in the EU referendum.

Reader interest will decide whether it lasts beyond a month. Priced at £2, the first issue will be available in shops across Britain from Friday, but distribution will be focused on areas that voted strongly for remain, including the south-east, Liverpool and Manchester.

The company said in a press release: “The paper will offer those feeling dismayed and disenfranchised by Brexit a non-political focal point, bringing together the extraordinarily broad spectrum of people who feel a real sense of loss after the leave vote victory.”

Brexit aftermath sends circulations soaring

The EU referendum and the resulting resignation of British Prime Minister David Cameron gave national newspapers large increases in circulation, with an average uplift of seven per cent on June 25, the Saturday after the Brexit vote. The increased audience was also reflected by a swell in online traffic figures as people turned to newspaper content to stay up-to-date with rolling blogs and deeper analysis, according to Newsworks.

The Times’ Saturday edition sold an additional 100,000 copies (+18% week on week) making it its biggest selling paper of the year, while on Friday (June 24), the London Evening Standard‘s circulation exceeded the million mark for the first time. It was the paper’s best Friday and Monday (June 27) performance since it became a free title.

The Guardian saw a record 17 million unique browsers and 77 million page views on Friday, while print sales for both The Guardian and The Observer also increased significantly over the weekend. Similarly, The Telegraph almost doubled its previous online day record with 16.3 million unique users.

Ailes sued for sexual harassment

A legal action has been launched against Fox News Channel chairman Roger Ailes by former anchor Gretchen Carlson, who claimed she was fired last month for refusing his sexual advances and complaining about his conduct.

Carlson, 50, a former Miss America, said Ailes commented on her legs and outfits, while trying to engage her in sexual banter. She also alleged that Ailes said he had slept with three former Miss Americas, but not her. Carlson complained again last September to Ailes about his treatment of her.

He allegedly responded: “I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you’d be good and better and I’d be good and better.” He also said “sometimes problems are easier to solve” that way, Carlson claimed.

AP to use to automation for US minor league coverage

The Associated Press will begin using an automated writing service to cover more than 10,000 American minor league baseball games annually, the news service announced last week.

It will produce the stories using technology from Automated Insights and data from MLB Advanced Media, which is the official stat-keeper of the minor leagues.

The Associated Press has been using automated writing in some form since July 2014, when it began using technology from Automated Insights to produce earnings report stories. The AP now uses automation to produce more than 3,500 earnings reports stories about US companies every quarter, the Poynter Institute reports.